Neighbor Island Mayors and Councils — Big Island, Kauai And Maui Counties

WAILUKU » Former Maui County Council members Sol Kaho’ohalahala and Wayne Nishiki are running for their old seats on Lanai and in South Maui respectively.

Nishiki stepped away from Council politics several years ago, after reaching the Maui County Charter limit of five consecutive two-year terms.

South Maui Council Member Michelle Anderson, Nishiki’s former Council legislative analyst, said she decided not to run this year for family reasons.

Others seeking the Council’s South Maui seat are information technology manager Donald Couch, restaurateur Joseph Gannon and construction estimator Norman Vares.

Besides Kaho’ohalahala, a former state representative, four candidates are seeking the Lanai seat vacated by Riki Hokama, who cannot run because of term limits.

The four include Police Commission member John Ornellas, farmer and former Hotel Lanai owner Alberta de Jetley, county waste-water worker Mano Matthew and county Council on Aging member Winifred Basques.

Nishiki’s eldest daughter, Kahekai, is challenging incumbent Michael J. Molina for the Makawao-Haiku-Paia seat.

Kahekai, a mother of three, said she and her father have the same goals for Maui.

“We want a good quality of life for our residents,” she said.

Environmentalist Antoinette “Lucienne” De Naie is running against incumbent William Medeiros for the East Maui seat.

West Maui incumbent Jo Anne Johnson is being challenged by office account manager Alan Fukuyama and real estate salesperson Chayne Marten. County parks clerk Jared Dubois has withdrawn.

Child therapist Netra Halperin seeks to unseat incumbent Councilman Joseph Pontanilla of Kahului.

Acupuncturist Michael S. Howden is running against incumbent Gladys C. Baisa for the Upcountry seat.

The top two vote-getters in the primary will advance to the general election.